People are selling their electric vehicles (EVs) primarily due to range anxiety, public charging inconveniences/unreliability, and high long-term maintenance costs (specifically battery replacement). Other factors include significant depreciation, high upfront costs compared to gas cars, and reduced performance in cold weather.
AAA says that high battery repair costs (62%) and a higher purchase price (59%) were the two most-cited reasons for not considering an EV purchase. Other respondents noted a perceived inability for EVs to handle long travel (57%), which seemingly relates to general charging fears.
Reconfirmation of the commitment to end the sale of new purely ICE cars by 2030, with all new cars and vans being fully zero emission by 2035. A technology definition to permit the sale of hybrid electric vehicles ( HEVs ) and plug-in hybrid vehicles ( PHEVs ) post-2030, alongside zero emission vehicles ( ZEVs ).
Across the globe, internal combustion engines are making a comeback, and consumers, automakers, and governments alike are reassessing the rush toward all-electric vehicles. According to a recent report from EY, half of all car buyers worldwide now plan to purchase a new or used gasoline-powered vehicle.
You can't drive as far in an electric car
The best electric cars now have ranges of well over 350 miles between charges. But many have a range of just 150 miles or less between charges, which means they are much more suited for use in cities and on short, local journeys, rather than for long-distance travel.
Yes, there will likely still be gasoline (gas) cars on the road in 2050, though they will be far outnumbered by electric vehicles (EVs) in new sales, with some projections showing EVs making up the majority of new purchases by then, while gas cars remain a significant portion of the total cars on the road due to their long lifespan. Government incentives and mandates, like California's goal to phase out new gas car sales by 2035, aim to accelerate the transition, but the existing fleet and consumer adoption rates mean gas cars won't disappear overnight.
Data collected from thousands of EVs on the road reveals that today's batteries typically retain 80-90% of their original capacity after 8-10 years or 100,000+ miles. This gradual capacity loss doesn't render the vehicle unusable; it simply reduces the maximum range slightly over time.
The phased-in zero-emission vehicle requirement is set to apply to California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington for the ongoing model year 2026, and Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. for model year 2027.
You won't be forced to buy an electric car (EV) overnight, but government regulations (like the EPA's emissions rules) and state mandates (like California's 2035 ban on new gas car sales) are pushing automakers to sell more EVs, effectively making them the primary new vehicle option in many places by the 2030s, though this is subject to political and industry changes, with debates ongoing about consumer choice and affordability.
But the end is in sight, as the government has declared that sales of petrol and diesel cars will end in 2030. Some car industry observers think this is ambitious, but either way, in a few years, there won't be many diesel cars on sale. They will survive beyond that, but by 2050, they could well be a rarity.
No, electric cars (EVs) are generally not worse for the environment than gasoline cars over their lifetime, despite higher manufacturing impacts, because their zero tailpipe emissions and cleaner operation significantly reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially as electricity grids get cleaner. While battery production and EV weight raise environmental concerns (e.g., mining, non-exhaust particulate matter), studies consistently show total lifetime emissions for EVs are lower, and the technology's footprint improves with grid decarbonization and battery advancements.
Gasoline Car Phaseout In California
These amendments support Governor Newsom's 2020 Executive Order N-79-20 that requires all new passenger vehicles sold in California to be zero emissions by 2035. Learn more about the gas car phaseout in California.
A recent AAA survey revealed that the top motivators against buying EVs included high purchase prices, range anxiety, and a lack of public charging stations—among others. Many automakers, including Toyota, see plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles as the best interim solution.
It is easier to answer the question, are electric cars better for the environment, thinking strictly about emissions. Operating electric vehicles emits far less greenhouse gas than a gasoline vehicle, particularly if you charge it with electricity from renewable sources.
EV Fires: Top Statistics
Globally, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) experience roughly 25 fires per 100,000 vehicles sold, translating to a ~0.025% fire rate. Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles sit near 1,530 fires per 100,000, while hybrids spike to ~3,475 per 100,000, making them the highest-risk category.
California's Gas Car Ban Overview
California's phasing out of gasoline vehicles includes standards for the rate at which automakers must convert their offerings to electric, culminating in a 100% EV requirement by 2035.
Dodge officially announced the return of the legendary Hemi V-8 for the 2027 Charger. Admitting that the market is not ready to fully abandon internal combustion, the automaker is reviving the supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat engine to sit alongside its electric Daytona models.
The ban on sales of new diesel and petrol models is due to come into place in 2030. As part of the government's recent changes, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid models will be permitted to stay on sale until 2035.